Leeds United Arbitration Latest

It’s day 2 of the arbitration hearing in London as Leeds chairman Ken Bates looks to get back the 15 points that were unjustly removed at the start of this League One season, and the other clubs in and around the Whites table-wise have started to mouth off a bit.

Sir Philip Otton, Leaver and lawyer Peter Cadman will consider whether it is thought to have been an unjust punishment to randomly force Leeds to start on -15 points, something which may well have a major impact on the clubs future should promotion not be achieved.

The hearing is believed to be rumbling on through into Friday, however a public announcement regarding the findings may not be available until the start of next week.

Now to the whiners:

Carlisle United boss John Ward believes that the 15 point penalty must stand, as it would be unfair on Leeds’ fellow promotion chasers.

An interesting point, must be because the unfair advantage they voted for at the start of the season has come back to bite them on the backside!

“I think Leeds will get something back,” said the Carlisle manager.

“The goalposts will have been changed with three games to go which would be strange”

“Rules are made at the beginning of the season and should be adhered to.”

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Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan believes it would be ‘an incredibly sad day for football’ if Leeds United’s season-long fight brought about a successful result. Speaking to the BBC he said:

“In my opinion they will fail. If they do succeed it would be an incredibly sad day for football.

“It would actually mean that promotion could be decided in a court of law.”

“What would happen next? Would Bournemouth, Luton, Rotherham - all the other teams that have lost 10 points, take on the Football League? I think it's a nonsense.”

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Last but by no means least, it’s a man well known for having the odd moan, Swansea City gaffer Roberto Martinez predicts WAR if Leeds were successful in overturning the pre-season penalty.

“Leeds are in a play-off position and I think they should stay in a play-off position.

“If anything else happens you won't have heard the last of it because teams like Tranmere, Southend, Nottingham Forest, Doncaster, Carlisle and ourselves will all be affected.”